ITR filing deadline: Income Tax Dept issues clarification on extension of deadline
PTC Web Desk: The Income Tax Department has issued a warning regarding fake news about the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR). A misleading news clipping circulating on social media falsely claims that the deadline for e-filing ITR has been extended to August 31. The department clarified that this information is incorrect, and the actual deadline for filing ITR for the fiscal year 2023-24 remains July 31, 2024. The department advised taxpayers to rely on updates from the official Income Tax India website or portal for accurate information.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), the Income Tax Department stated, "We have become aware of a fake news clipping from Sandesh news circulating on social media about an extension for e-filing ITR. This is FAKE news. Taxpayers should follow updates from the official IncomeTaxIndia website/portal."
Additionally, the department alerted taxpayers to a new scam concerning income tax refunds. Scammers are using the pretense of tax refunds to deceive individuals and drain their bank accounts through fraudulent SMS and email communications.
According to the Income Tax Department's website, over 4 crore ITRs have been filed as of July 22, 2024, representing an 8% increase compared to the same period last year. On July 16, the number of daily filed ITRs exceeded 15 lakh and is expected to rise as the July 31 deadline approaches. The milestones of 1 crore, 2 crore, and 3 crore ITR filings for Assessment Year 2024-25 were reached on June 23, July 7, and July 16, respectively, all earlier than the previous year.
The milestone of 4 crore filings was achieved on July 24 last year. Taxpayers experiencing technical difficulties with filing can contact the toll-free helpdesk numbers (1800 103 0025 or 1800 419 0025) or email Efilingwebmanager@incometax.gov.in.
- With inputs from agencies
